Begonia rex 'Escargot', foliage to turn your head

Shapes, colors and even texture... Begonia escargot's foliage is enough to turn plant lovers' heads. But this feat owes nothing to chance. It's the result of laboratory cross-breeding of several varieties of Royal Begonia.

How to recognize Begonia rex 'Escargot'?

Begonia rex escargot measures up to 30 centimetres in height and width. It is a perennial with a bushy habit.

Its evergreen foliage is unlike any other. The asymmetrical, oval or even cordate leaves are rolled up like a spiral or snail shell. The leaf blades come in a wide range of colors, from bright green to silver. They always have a darker, brown or black center. They are embossed and covered with tiny pink hairs.

The inflorescence of white flowers looks a little dull against this foliage. If you're looking for an indoor begonia with spectacular blooms, you're better off with a Water-lily Begonia!

Begonia rex escargot is toxic to humans and animals. It causes skin irritations when touched and stomach upsets if ingested. Remember to wear gloves when handling it, and keep it away from small children, dogs and cats.

Our maintenance tips

Snail' Begonias are tropical plants. They need high humidity but don't like wet foliage. You shouldn't mist them or water their leaves. And to keep their shape harmonious, remember to turn the pot a quarter turn every month.

Watering

Your Begonia 'Escargot tolerates thirst better than excess water. Water only when the soil is three to five centimeters dry. Choose moderate rather than heavy watering, and always use non-calcareous water at room temperature.

If you use a planter or saucer, drain off any stagnant water. It can rot the roots.

Spray

Your begonia 'Escargot hates wet foliage. You must not mist the plant.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Begonia rex 'Escargot' to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

Your Begonia 'Escargot likes it cramped. Re-pot when the roots escape from the pot or have colonized the entire space.

Choose a pot with holes two or three centimetres wider and deeper than the previous one. Pour a drainage layer (clay balls, gravel, small pebbles, etc.) in the bottom.

Top up with potting soil for green plants, enhanced with perlite or sand. Plant your Begonia rex 'Escargot' in the center and add substrate.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

Dilute green plant fertilizer with water.

Prune

Remove flowers when they bloom. Their growth is detrimental to that of the foliage.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Take a fifteen-centimeter section of stem or liana with at least three leaves.

Once you've obtained your graft, place it in a vase or glass filled withwater at room temperature. Make sure the node is completely submerged.

Place your cutting in a bright spot, but without direct sunlight. Change the water regularly to keep it clear.

Diseases / Threats

Powdery mildew

Mealybugs

Adult thrips in black with their larvae in red.

Thysanoptera

Information

Family	Begonias - Begoniaceae
Type	Begonia - Begonia
Species	Royal Begonia - Begonia rex
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposure	Half-shade
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting method	In pots
Categories	Interior Herbaceous
Tags	Fritillary Toxic
Origin	South Asia
Hardiness (USDA)	11b
Leaf color
Flower color